Home Archives for Names for Cells and Ranges
October 21, 2012 1 Comment

Essential Excel Skill #3: Creating and Using Named Cell Ranges in Excel

Essential Skill #3 - Using Named Cell Ranges

Essential Excel Skill 33 – Using Named Cell Ranges

I believe that there are two main reasons to create and use Named Cell Ranges in Excel”

  • They make great Navigational Bookmarks – to quickly move to a specific location in your workbook
  • Using Named Cell Ranges in Excel Formulas make the formula:
    • Easier to Write
    • Easier to Explain – to others
    • Easier to Understand – when you need to edit it or copy it.

9 Essential Excel Skills

My latest Excel Video Training Resource: “9 Essential Excel Skills,” contains 4 hours of focused video training. There are a total of 25 individual video tutorials in the resource.

Here, in this lesson, I demonstrate several of the tips and techniques that I present in Essential Skill # 3. I show you how easy it is to create and use Named Cell Ranges in Excel Formulas and Functions.

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I invite you to visit my secure, online shopping website – http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com – to explore all of the training resources that I offer you.

Watch My Tutorial in High Definition

Follow this link to watch my Excel tutorial in High Definition on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

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How to Create and Use Nammed Cell Ranges in Excel [ 8:13 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4615)
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Filed Under: Essential Excel Skills, Excel Formulas, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Names for Cells and Ranges Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
September 24, 2012 1 Comment

How to Use Lookup Functions in Excel – Take a Free Lesson from My Latest Video Training Resource

Video Lesson - Lookup Functions in Excel 2007

Video Lesson – Lookup Functions in Excel 2007

I have just published the Excel 2007 version of my latest video training resource, “Nine Essential Excel Skills.” And, I want to offer you the opportunity to watch a complete episode. This is one of the 25 video tutorials included on my video training resource. The complete package contains almost four-hours of focused Excel 2007 Training.

Lookup Functions in Excel 2007

Watch this complete 11 minutes and 30 second lesson, as I demonstrate how to use both the VLOOKUP() and HLOOKUP() Functions in Excel. I demonstrate how to return an “exact” match as well as how to return an “approximate” match. I use “plain language” to describe how to use Lookup Functions.

Learn More About My Video Training Resources

Here are the links to the specific product information pages for my latest video training resources:

Download My Step-by-Step Instructional Guide – for Free!

You can download a PDF of my Step-by-Step Instructional Guide for the “9 Essential Excel 2007 Skills” video training resource. I am offering this for free so that you can see the scope and detail of the training that I offer on my 4-hour video. Click on this link to begin the downloading process for my free Instructional Guide.

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Follow this link to watch my Excel Tutorial in High Definition on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

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Filed Under: Excel Basics, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Lookup Functions in Excel, MS Excel 2007 DVD, Names for Cells and Ranges, Training Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
September 20, 2012 Leave a Comment

Instructional Guide “9 Essential Excel 2010 Skills” – Download for Free

Instructional Guide "9 Essential Excel 2010 Skills"

Instructional Guide “9 Essential Excel 2010 Skills”

I want you to discover the scope of the Excel Training that I offer on my new video tutorial, “9 Essential Excel 2010 Skills.” So, I am offering the PDF of the Step-by-Step Instructional Guide that accompanies the video tutorial.

Link to The Company Rocks Free Resources Page

Click on this link to begin the download process for the Instructional Guide.

Instructions for Downloading the Free Instructional Guide

  1. Add this product to your secure shopping cart at my website.
  2. During Checkout, you can choose to either Register or Shop as a Guest
  3. You will need to provide a valid email address in order to receive the actual link to download my Instructional Guide.
  4. Even though you will be downloading this product, I had to set it up as a physical product with “Free Shipping.”
  5. Shortly after you complete the checkout process you will receive an email that contains a hyperlink to the file that you will download.
  6. You will be downloading a “zipped” file. So, once the download is completed, be sure to “unzip” this file!
  7. I created my Instructional Guide using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Read the Instructional Guide and then Purchase my Video!

I am convinced that once you see the scope of the training in Excel 2010 that I offer, you will want to purchase the video tutorial. I offer my video in tow versions:

List of the “9 Essential Excel 2010 Skills”

9 Essential Skills for Excel 2010

9 Essential Skills for Excel 2010 Video Tutorial

These are the 9 Essential Skills that I have identified for my video tutorial:

  1. Entering Data Efficiently in Excel 2010
  2. Selecting Cell Ranges Efficiently in Excel 2010
  3. Creating and Using Named Cell Ranges in Excel 2010
  4. Applying Styles and Formatting to Excel 2010 Worksheets
  5. Working with Structured Data Sets in Excel 2010
  6. Working with Excel 2010 Formulas and Functions
  7. Using Paste Special Options in Excel 2010
  8. Using Data Validation in Excel 2010
  9. Using Excel 2010 “What-if” Analysis Tools

Excel 2010 Practice Files Included

When you purchase my video tutorial, you receive the same Excel 2010 Worksheets that I used while filming each of the 25 video tutorials. Using the same files as you view my videos, you will be able to practice your new skills. And, of course, you also receive the same Instructional Guide that I am offering for free!

I welcome your feedback! Please send me your comments via email – danny@thecompanyrocks.com – or by adding a comment below.

Thank you!

 

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Filed Under: COUNTIF and SUMIF Functions, Data Validation, Everyday Calculations in Excel, Excel Basics, Excel Data Tables and Lists, Excel Formulas, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Format Cells in Excel, Goal Seek in Excel, MS Excel Tips, MS Excel Training, Names for Cells and Ranges, New in Excel 2010, Online Store for The Company Rocks, Subtotals and Outlines in Excel, SUMIF and SUMIFS Functions, Video Training Courses, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
August 13, 2012 3 Comments

How to Combine 2 Excel Workbooks Using VLOOKUP Function

VLOOKUP Function Arguments

VLOOKUP Function Arguments

I created this video tutorial to assist one of my viewers. He had 2 Excel Workbooks that he needed to combine. Because he had a MemberID Field in each workbook, I decided that the VLOOKUP() Function would be the fastest way to complete this task for my viewer.

Tips Covered in this Video

  • Move or Copy a Worksheet to another Excel Workbook
  • Use a Mixed Cell Reference – e.g. $A4 – so that column “A” reference is “frozen” when copying formula
  • Create “Named Range” to use as the “Table_Array” argument in VLOOKUP
  • Use FALSE as 4th (optional) argument in VLOOKUP to produce an “exact match”
  • Use IFERROR to prevent “error messages” from displaying

Watch this Video in High Definition

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Learn About My Training Resources

I invite you to visit my secure online shopping website – http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com – to learn about the many training resources that I offer for sale.

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Filed Under: Excel Functions, Excel Training, Names for Cells and Ranges, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
February 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

How to Use Named Ranges in Existing Excel Formulas

Paste Named Ranges in Formula

Paste Named Ranges in Formula

I am a strong proponent for using Named Cell Ranges when creating Excel Formulas. But what if you have already created formulas – formulas that use cell references. How do you insert or apply a newly created named range into an existing Excel Formula?

Simple answer – watch this short video to see me demonstrate how this is done.

Better answer:

Follow These Steps

  1. Activate in-cell formula editing by either double-clicking the formula cell or using the Keyboard Shortcut F2.
  2. Highlight the cell reference that you wish to replace with a named range.
  3. Choose the Name from the “Use in Formulas” drop-down menu. You can also use the F3 Keyboard Shortcut to open the Paste Names Dialog Box.
  4. Repeat these steps to complete replacing additional cell references with named cell ranges.

Learn to Get the Most from Excel

On my DVD-ROM, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007,” I offer 5 1/2 hours of video instruction. You will be amazed at how much more you can get out of Excel when you invest in this valuable resource. I invite you to visit my secure, online shopping website to learn more about the resources that I offer.

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Filed Under: Excel Formulas, Excel Training, Names for Cells and Ranges Tagged: , , , , , ,
February 10, 2012 Leave a Comment

3 Reasons to Create and Use Named Ranges in Excel Formulas

Use Named Ranges in Formulas

Use Named Ranges in Formulas

In my opinion, there are three reasons to use Named Range references in Excel Formulas:

  1. They are easier to write. Particularly, if you are referencing cells in another worksheet.
  2. They are easier to remember. Using =Sales – Cost of Goods Sold to determine Gross Profit vs. =A1 – B1
  3. They are easier to explain. Especially, if you are sending an Excel Workbook to a client or a colleague.

Creating Named Ranges in Excel

In this tutorial, I demonstrate two methods for creating a named range:

  1. Select the cells in the range and then type the name in the “Name Box” in the Upper Left Corner of the worksheet.
  2. Select both the cell with the “Name” and the adjacent cells for the range. Then use the Keyboard Shortcut Ctrl + Shit + F3 to open the Create Names from Selection Dialog Box

Remember that all Named Ranges MUST begin with a Letter or an Underscore and they CANNOT contain any Spaces!

Paste Named Ranges into Formulas

If you are using Excel 2007 or Excel 2010, you can take advantage of Formula AutoComplete to quickly and accurately include named ranges in your formulas. In ALL versions of Excel you can use the F3 Keyboard Shortcut to open the Paste Names Dialog Box and select the named range that you wish to paste into your formula.

Additional Resources for Excel

I invite you to visit my secure online shopping website – http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com – where you can preview all of the resources that I offer you.

Watch Tutorial in High Definition

Follow this link to watch my Excel Video in High Definition. My YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels – has received over 1 million views!

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Filed Under: Excel Formulas, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Names for Cells and Ranges, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , , ,
December 14, 2011 2 Comments

Use an Excel Template to Customize a Worksheet with 52 Weeks of Employee Time Cards

Template for Time Cards in Excel

Time Card Templates in Excel

This is Part Two in my new series of Excel Tutorials where I share my best practice tips for creating 52 weeks of Employee Time Cards – for hours worked. In this segment, I focus on starting the process with an Excel Template.

Finding Templates for Time Cards

As I demonstrate in the video, there are at least two easy sources for finding a Time Card Template:

  1. Sample Templates Installed on your Computer
  2. Templates that you can preview and download from the Microsoft Office Templates Website

Examining Templates that You Download

Before you even think about duplicating the Excel Template that you just downloaded, it is important for you to take a few minutes to explore:

  • The Formulas used in the Template
  • The Formatting used in the Template – especially the formatting for Dates and Times
  • The Protection Applied (if any) to the cells or the entire worksheet

Creating Drop-down Menus for your Template

Since our premise here is that we will copy the template to 51 additional worksheets, it makes sense to use Data Validation to create a series of “drop-down menus” for Employee names and the Start Date for each week. I demonstrate how to do this in the video tutorial.

Links to Additional Video Tutorials in this Series

Additional Resources for Excel

I invite you to visit my new, secure, online shopping website – http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com – to discover the many training resources that I offer you!

Watch Tutorial in High Definition

Follow this link to watch this Excel Tutorial in High Definition on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

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Filed Under: Data Validation, Excel Training, Names for Cells and Ranges, Work with Multiple Worksheets, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,
December 4, 2011 Leave a Comment

How to SUM Values in One Field Based on Criteria from Multiple Fields in Excel

SUMIFS and DSUM Functions

SUMIFS and DSUM Functions

The new SUMIFS() Function was introduced in Excel 2007. With SUMIFS, you can sum the values in one field based up criteria that comes from multiple fields. This is a very valuable Function.

SUMIFS Function

The key to understanding SUMIFS, is that you “pair” a criteria range with the criteria for that range. As you watch my tutorial, the importance of this concept will become clear to you.

DSUM Function

If you are using – or need to create workbooks that are compatible with – older versions of Excel – e.g. Excel 2003, you can use the DSUM Function to achieve the same results. The DSUM belongs to the Database Functions set in Excel.

Use Named Cell Ranges in Formulas

I highly recommend that you learn how to create – and then use – named cell references in your Excel Formulas and Functions. In this tutorial, I show you how to do this. Once you have created a named cell reference, you can use the F3 Keyboard Shortcut to show a dialog box that lists all of the named Ranges that you can post into your formulas. This will save you time and help to ensure accuracy in your formulas – especially when you cop a formula to another location.

Bonus: Create Drop-down Menu with Data Validation

When using Multiple Criteria, I like to be able to select my criteria values from a drop-down list. In this lesson, I demonstrate how to do this using Data Validation in Excel.

Learn More Excel Tips

I invite you to visit my new, secure, online shopping website – http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com. Here, you can learn more about the tips on my best-selling DVD-ROM, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007.”

 

Watch Video in High Definition

Here is the link to view this Excel Tutorial in High Definition on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

YouTube Video

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Filed Under: Data Validation, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Names for Cells and Ranges, New in Excel 2007, New in Excel 2010, SUMIF and SUMIFS Functions Tagged: , , , , , , , ,
September 19, 2011 2 Comments

How to Create a Summary Report from an Excel Table

Functions for Executive Summary

Functions for Executive Summary

I created this Excel Video Tutorial in response to a viewer who, in her company, is not permitted to use a Pivot Table to create a report. Unfortunately, this happens more often than you might think. Nevertheless, I promised to share my tips and advice. I think that many of this tips will help Excel users at all levels.

Tips Covered in this Video Tutorial

  • Use Advanced Filter to Extract a list of unique customer names from a range with @ 4,300 records.
  • Later in the lesson, I show you how to extract this list to a different worksheet – a tip that will save you time when preparing your reports!
  • How and why to convert a normal range of data into a TABLE in Excel 2007 / 2010 or into a LIST in Excel 2003.
  • How to create “Named Ranges” for your key data cells and to use them in your Formulas and Functions.
  • How to use the SUMIF, AVERAGEIF and COUNTIF Functions in your summary report.

Keyboard Shortcuts Used in this Tutorial

  • Ctrl + T to convert to a TABLE in Excel 2007 / Excel 2010
  • Ctrl + L to convert to a LIST in EXCEL 2003
  • Ctrl + A to open up the Function Arguments Dialog Box
  • Ctrl + Shift + F3 to open the Create Names Dialog Box
  • F3 to open the Paste Names Dialog Box

I decided that I will only make this video available on YouTube – I think that you will enjoy the clarity that you get from the High-Definition / Full Screen Mode.

Watch Tutorial in High Definition on YouTube

Follow this link to view this Excel Tutorial in High Definition on my YouTubeChannel – DannyRocksExcels

Visit my new secure online shopping website

I invite you to visit http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com – my new online shopping website.

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Filed Under: COUNTIF and SUMIF Functions, Excel Data Tables and Lists, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Keyboard Shortcuts, Names for Cells and Ranges, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
December 2, 2010 2 Comments

How to Speed Up Data Entry on Forms By Using Named Cell Ranges

You can speed up data entry on an Excel form by creating – and using – named cell ranges. This also improves data accuracy, because the data entry clerk only has to hit the “Enter” key after each imput; the curosor automatically moves to the next cell in the named range that you applied to your form!

There is one “got’cha” step in this process. As you will see in this video, it is important to observe the position of the “Active Cell” in your selection!

The 50 Best Tips

The 50 Best Tips Series

Key Points Covered

  • Hold down the “Ctrl” key as you click on the cells in your non-contiguous range.
  • Use labels and cell shading to identify the cells that require data input.
  • When selecting your non-contiguous cells, choose the cell that you want to be the “Active Cell” last.
  • You can enter a formula or value into all of the cells in a range with “Ctrl+Enter.”

Try this out  on a form that you use at work. Remember to create a “name” for your data input cells. “Named cell ranges” are saved when you create a copy of your workbook – so this technique can be easily duplicated by saving the file with a new name.

Click here to watch this video in High Definition, Full Screen Mode on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

Learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

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How to speed up data entry on forms with named cell ranges [ 4:58 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (882)
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Filed Under: Excel Forms, Excel Training, Names for Cells and Ranges, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , ,
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